Method and apparatus for replacing water-cooled arches



Dec. 20, 1949 J, 5, KONRAD 2,491,985

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING m WATER COOLED ARCHES Filed May 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jig. -10

INVENTOR.

ms ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1949 J 5. KONRAD 2,491,985

HETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING WATER COOLED ARCHES Filed May 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig. 2. Jig. J 54 2m 40) M i/ 32 Jig. 4.

IN VEN TOR.

Joli/ Step/m2 )1 0/2/40 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1949 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING WATER-COOLED ARCHES John S. Konrad, Leicester, Mass, assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 667,129

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for replacing water cooled arches and more particularly to replacing an arch of the type shown in the copending application of Frederick H. Barnes, Serial No. 650,809, filed February 28, 1946. As disclosed in the said copending application, the water cooled arch is fastened to the inside of the buckstays of the furnace above the door opening. In some instances the welding of the water cooled arch is defective or may burn through and the arch must be replaced while the furnace is in operation. Previous to my inven tion it was necessary to permit the furnace to cool before replacing the arch, thus losing several hours operating time.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of positioning a water cooled arch in a hot furnace.

Another object is to provide-a positioning rig for use in carrying out the method.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in cross section, showing the positioning rig in two positions relative to the furnace;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the positioning ri Figure 3 is an end view of the cradle of the positioning rig;

Figure 4 is a front view of the positioning rig; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the vertical buckstays having a water cooled door frame 4 fastened thereto in the usual manner, the frame having a door opening 6 therein. A skewback channel 8 is fastened to the buckstays 2 above the door opening 5 and supports a skewback brick ID. The positioning rig consists of a column l2 having means near its bottom for receiving the ram I4 of a charging machine. A cradle I6 is pivotally mounted on top of the column I! and supports a water cooled arch l8 which is provided with cooling water connections 20. Further details of the water cooled arch are shown in the copending application of Frederick H. Barnes, identified above.

As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the column I2 is made from two vertical channel irons 22 having a plate 24 welded to their tops and a channel iron 26 extending therebetween and welded thereto some distance from their bottoms. Extending from the lower end of each of the channels 22 to the channel 26 are a pair of angle irons 28 which are spaced apart to provide grooves 30 shaped to engage the end of the charging machine ram l4. The cradle 16 is made of a bent plate 3! having vertical flanges 32 and 34 at its ends. Welded to plate 3| in spaced apart relationship are a pair of bars 36 which slope upwardly so as to support the arch I 8 with its front wall in a substantially vertical plane. The plates 24 and 3| are provided with matching holes 38 and 40 for receiving a pivot pin 42 which extends downwardly therethrough and which is held in place by means of a cotter pin 44 extending through an opening therein.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The rig is placed on the end of the charging machine ram 14 with the cradle I6 turned so that its long dimension is perpendicular to the door opening 6. The ram l4 with the column l2 and cradle 16 mounted thereon is moved into the furnace through the door opening 6 and the cradle I5 is then turned through an angle of approximately 90. The rig is raised to engage the burned-out water cooled arch and the water connections and mounting bolts are removed from the arch, after which the rig is lowered sufficiently to allow the rig and arch thereon to pass through the furnace opening. The cradle I8 is again turned 90 and removed from the furnace. In some instances, especially in open hearth furnaces, the water connections and mounting bolts are removed and the burned-out arch shoved into the furnace where it is subsequently melted along with the charge of scrap. In. replacin the arch the rig is supported on the ram I4 and a new arch l8 placed on the cradle IS with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the door opening as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The arch on the cradle is then moved through the door opening into the furnace, after which the cradle is turned through an angle of approximately 90. The ram is then raised to move the arch into position, this being shown in broken lines in Figure 1. The arch I8 is then fastened to the buckstays 2 in the usual manner after which the ram I4 is lowered and the cradle l6 rotated through an angle of The rig is then removed from the furnace through the door opening 6.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of positioning a water cooled placing the arch on the cradle with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the door opening, moving the arch on the cradle through the door opening into the furnace, then turning the cradle with the arch mounted thereon through an angle of approximately ninety degrees in a substantially horizontal plane, and raising the ram to move the arch into position.

2. A rig for positioning water cooled arches and the like in a furnace, which rig comprises a column, means at the lower end of said column 15 for receiving a charging machine ram or the like for carrying the rig, a cradle mounted on the top of said column for receiving said arch, the top of said cradle being shaped to support the arch with its front wall in a substantially vertical plane, and means having a vertical axis for pivotally mounting said cradle on the top 01' said column to enable the cradle to move through an angle of approximately ninety degrees in a substantially horizontal plane only.

JOHN S. KONRAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 589,768 Wellman Sept. 7, 1897 1,523,167 Bettes Jan. 13, 1925 1,580,106 Allie Apr. 13, 1926 1,900,682 Alcott Mar. '7, 1933 1,915,398 Bedell June 27, 1933 2,041,516 Rudd May 19, 1936 2,364,150 Lowenstein Dec. 5, 1944 

